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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
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for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Degreaser/etcher for powder coating preparation
Q. WE ARE HAVING POWDER COATING PLANT AND DOING POWDER COATING ON MS BOXES. OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM IS DE-GREASING. I AM LOOKING FOR BEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE DE-GREASING PROCESS.
Shoieb T. Kapadia- MUMBAI, MAHARASTRA, India
2001
Q. Hello there,
I'm starting up a small powder coating shop with aspirations of growth. I've managed to get going somewhat using a Sherwin-Williams concrete etching solution for a mild etch, degreasing, and leaving behind iron phosphate on ferrous metals.
My understanding is that this can be used as a degreaser for aluminum, steel, stainless, cast iron. I've used it with some success so far. What I'd like, is a continuously usable solution to dip. I'm willing to rig up agitation and heat between 90-130 as mentioned previously in another post, but I'd like a one thing does all sort of product. I get steel, aluminum, and cast iron through the shop with virtually no notice. I'd like to use something that has virtually no environmental issues, and doesn't give off any noxious fumes. I've experimented with muriatic acid (mostly hydrochloric) and phosphoric acid. The detergent / phosphoric solution has met my requirements best by far, to date. I'm willing to use a proprietary mixture, if necessary. So far, the best thing I've found is marketed by one company and referred to as 'BSP 245'.
I'm wondering if there's something better, the use is for prepping/degreasing parts for powder coating. I'd love a solution like another I've heard of that will actually just knock the ridges down, effectively polishing the metal, similar to what an anodizing shop would use. Most of all, I don't want something I have to fully evacuate and refill frequently. Lastly, cost is an issue. Even if something isn't the absolute *best* product, if the price/performance ratio is there, I'm willing to deal with it.
I'd be happy to answer any clarification questions.
powder coating shop - Rockport, Maine, United States of America
2004
A. Hi Peter,
I recommend that you find a company that manufactures pretreatment chemicals and get a proprietary iron phosphate product that contains detergents. Using a concrete etching solution is a crude approach to depositing a substandard iron phosphate coating.
- Naperville, Illinois
2004
A. Dear Peter,
Yours is a very simple Problem. For Degreasing you should use mild alkali formulations at 60 - 80 C. This bath can be used regular by replenishing the chemicals consumed. Dumping the entire bath is uncommon. However the exact conc. and particular product selection depends upon quantum and type of oil on the component. For heavy oils a precleaning process will be required. Iron Phosphating (cold phosphating applied by hand wiping or dipping single tank process) has limited corrosion resistance and bonding properties. For Iron hot dip zinc - calcium process and for Aluminum yellow chromate is best. Most of the chemicals are proprietary.
- Kanpur, U.P., India
2004
Q. What are the effects of sludge in degreasing tank and how does it affect zinc phosphating process.
Ashok Surve- Mhrshtr, Mumbai, India
April 21, 2013
A. Hi Ashok. Please post your actual situation. Sorry, I can't answer an abstract question like that. A vapor degreaser tank, or an aqueous soak cleaner tank? The sludge is metal fines, or heavy greases, or what? The parts are immersed into the sludge, or the sludge is way below the solution level? Are you generating rejects suddenly and you didn't last week, and you had no sludge last week? Thanks!
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
April 22, 2013
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